News, notes and reader questions about the San Francisco 49ers

July 29, 2008

Early indications are that the injury Kentwan Balmer suffered earlier today is not the dreaded high-ankle sprain that fells so many linemen each year. Balmer hurt his right ankle when a teammate fell on it during a running drill this morning. He is being listed as day to day. A high-ankle sprain takes weeks of recovery, and in the case of linebacker Jay Moore last year, can cost an entire season. Atiyyah Ellison likely will fill in at left defensive end while Balmer is out.

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The 49ers will not bring in another running back while Michael Robinson recovers from yesterday's arthroscopic surgery. Robinson is expected to miss three to five weeks. His main role this season is expected to be on special teams and the team feels he only needs a week or so prior to the season to adjust to his role there.

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The 49ers had a special teams practice this afternoon. Working as kick returners were Allen Rossum, rookies Josh Morgan and Cam Colvin and second-year player Jason Hill.

MATTHEW BARROWS

Matt was born in Blacksburg, Va., and attended the University of Virginia. He graduated in 1995, went to Northwestern for a journalism degree a year later, and got his first job at a South Carolina daily in 1997. He joined The Bee as a Metro reporter in 1999 and started covering the 49ers in 2003. His favorite player of all time is Darrell Green.